Page 99 Test Challenge Post

Bonjour!

I am making today's challenge post separate from my participation post so that it is not suuuper obnoxiously long. The challenge is found today at Reviewing Wonderland and is called the Page 99 Test. The idea is to pick a book you have not read yet, turn to page 99 and read just that page. Then give a synopsis of that page and decided, based only on page 99, if you would still want to read the book. No spoilers or plagiarism!

The book I picked out is Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank. I am not including a synopsis because I do not want my opinion biased. I am sure I have read it before but it has been awhile (I bought the book a year ago!). This will be a true test of whether or not I would read the book based solely on page 99!

I picked this book because it is the book I want to read for the Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon and I haven't started it yet!

Page 99 is a conversation between the main character and Aunt Daisy about what has apparently happened to the MC to cause her to run to Folly Beach. Turns out her husband Mark was reaching far into debt, and using her name to do it.

"Aunt Daisy looked at me for what seemed like forever, planning her response. At first, she had been angry for me and even with me but now she saw me as I was. Damaged. Floundering."

Would I want to read this book based on this page alone?? I think I am torn either way. The writing seems a little odd to me, like perhaps too poetic for normal people to be talking. But the dialogue does intrigue me to want to know how the MC (Cate) got to this damaged state and what it will take for her to heal. Based on the title of the book, I am betting a lot of the healing will simply come from the beautiful Folly Beach scenery.

Conclusion: intrigued but nervous! I think the book will stay on as my Summer Lovin' goal book.......so I had better get a readin'!

Excited to read your challenge posts! If you stop by leave your link below!!

No affiliate links. All book links lead to goodreads.com.

"Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee!"

Greetings friends!

*Goals Update!!!: I finished my e-book goal by reading Valor by Taylor Longford! Still haven't started Folly Beach however...*

Anyone else dying to watch Grease about now? I am for sure, complete with chocolatey trail mix! Today's topic is a bit tougher for me. Although, I love reading, and particularly fiction, I do have a tough time becoming a fan follower of literary characters. TV...don't get me started *cough cough Doctor Who cough*. So I reviewed over my recent-er reads to pick some good female characters, and I am trying to stick to 3!

 

Elyse from Oppression

In the book, Elyse is given a prophecy for her life, and instead of complaining and resisting...she accepts it! I loved that about her and didn't see it as a weakness. Instead it is more like acceptance; acknowledging her importance and her future and acting upon as best she can. I love characters who can be strong and accept their destiny, and not spend three books whining about it. 

Tris in Divergent

I am surprised by how much I loved Tris considering how much I am probably nothing like her. But she is strong and fearless, something I wish I could be more like. Tris makes who she wants to be and doesn't accept her own limits. She is constantly challenging what others think of her and pushing herself to be better. I love that drive and it makes for a great dystopian character!

Hermione from Harry Potter

Let's face it.....she's awesome. Who wouldn't love to be Hermione Granger?? She is strong, brave, intelligent, loving, and kind. The perfect mix. I know she comes off as annoying for books 1-3, especially The Sorcerer's Stone, but she grows on you like a best friend. Hermione is the only one to stick with Harry from start to finish and that deserves some cred (book 5 anyone??)

Like these picks?? Anything you disagree with? I would love to hear it!




No affiliate links. All links lead to goodreads.com

You're the One that I Want!

Hey fellow Summer Lovin' friends!!

Today's participation post is focused on our must have summer reads. Let's be honest friends, is it really a summer read unless it is crazy chick lit???

Some examples of books I have read in the past that would qualify as great summer reads would be:

 One for the Money (and the whole series). Yes now it is a movie with Katherine Heigl that was only liveable because a. she was in it and b. I had already read the books years before. Trust me, the book IS better!

 Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Straight up sob story here folks. So maybe don't actually read this ON the beach, unless you don't mind people staring at you.

 Mai Tai One On. Ridiculous summer mystery fluff.

And let's face it...
 Treasure Island. What could be more summery than a book on an island searching for treasure with pirates??? SUMMER.


This summer I feel I don't have much good chick lit fluff on my summer reading list. And that disappoints me. I have Folly Beach which is the book I am reading for this challenge. If you check out my To Reads page on Goodreads, what you will find is in need of some drastic updating. But! you may also find a lot of YA 'fluff' that perhaps I should finally get around to.





Which one do you think I should start with first?? Have you reviewed any of these books? Leave me the link in the comments!!


No affiliate links. All links lead to goodreads.com.

Class Orientation!

Hey Book Blogging Buddies!

I am participating in my first ever Read-a-thon here with Summer Lovin' hosted by Reviewing Wonderland.

Today's participation post is about introductions and goals. Well taking a peek around the blog you can see I am not a book blogger :( (but check out this announcement I made last week. I would love all your wisdom and pointers as I get started!!) The book blogging world is something I am just discovering, and loving! Participating in this read-a-thon is part of this discovering process! 

Basics: My name is Alyssa! I am married to an awesome Hubby and now have an eight month old Baby Girl, whom I love to share pictures about in every form of social media. Being a new mommy has cut back on my reading time; my TBR pile is growing HUGE! I am a stay at home mom for now. I am heading into another year of coaching cheerleading (football and competitive seasons). Whether or not I coach the whole year is up in the air with a new baby child. I HUGE GINORMOUS fan of DOCTOR WHO!!! If you are too, we should be insta-friends. I am also a fan of () and !!.

I taught myself to read round age 3 by reading Babysitter's Little Sister chapter books. Loved those, Sweet Valley Twins, and Boxcar children. Because I taught myself to read, I often have difficulty with pronunciation in my speech. I had to figure out what words sounded like in my head and what their meaning was by context.  

Since then, I have been a huge reader, leaning heavily in fantasy (Animorphs as a kid quickly migrated into the world of Shannara), paranormal (before vampires were cool there was Queen of the Damned), and dabbling in sci-fi (Acorna was my big break even though I wasn't a total fan). Now, thanks to Twilight, I am discovering the world of YA. I am finding YA captivating in story and imagination, and they are always a quick, easy reading breeze. I am also reading more non-fic as I get older, specifically Christian lit but also beginning to dabble in bios. 

My goals for this read-a-thon are:

1. Read and complete Folly Beach (a beach read about a beach I have actually visited!) 

2. Read and complete an ebook 

3. Participate in the daily blog link ups

4. Follow at least 2 new book bloggers!

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CHALLENGE POST!
Today's challenge can be found HERE!
I am sharing from Age of Miracles

 

"My mother had never forbidden me to talk to Sylvia or the other real-timers. It was never explicitly said. But it didn't need to be said. I understood well that I was supposed to keep my distance from them, from Sylvia especially. And mostly, that's exactly what I did." (pg 124)

"Classrooms were half empty all day or, depending on your outlook, half full. Dozens of desks stood unused, attendance sheets went largely unchecked. It was as if certain kids really had been sucked up from the earth to the heavens, the way some Christians were expecting, leaving the rest of us behind, we the children of scientists and atheists and the simply less devout." (pg 47)

Hmm... that last one makes it sound like a religious book, but it is not. Hope this intrigued you to reading it!!

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I hope I can complete this amazing reading feat in one week! Wish me luck!!

If you are book blogger, leave a note! I would love to stop by your place!

No affiliate links. All links lead to goodreads.com.

The 100th Post!

Welcome amigos!

Well, this is it post #100!!

Majorly exciting I am sure for every who is not me :) I have been putting off this post because I wanted to make it 'special', but in reality I am sure I am the only one who thinks it is a big deal. 

I do have two bits of small news to share with you lovely readers today:

1. As I wrote about several weeks ago, I am participating in my first ever read-a-thon. The Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon starts next week. They are having daily participation posts, each good for an entry in their fabulous giveaways. So, expect to see me tons next week!! Click on the banner here to be taken to their page for more info and a sign up!

 

This leads to ..

2. I am in the process of setting up a secondary blog. No, not because I am seeing wild success with this one (eye roll), but because I am wanting to narrow my blogging scope and yet widen it at the same time. Makes sense, yeah? :D 

The Christian Sugar Addict, as the name aptly implies, is my home to discuss God, Jesus and all my favorite baking recipes. And, of course since its me, a lot of LIFE thrown in the mix. As much as I love being able to share all aspects of my eclectic life with you here, I am falling in love with book blogs and want to jump in full force! I am not sure if 'book reviews' fall under the CSA umbrella. 

Of course I will give you all the details once I have them, but I am checking out Wordpress. And yes, it is extremely intimidating. I won't be hosting my own site since I do not have the funds or gumption at this point, so that there makes it less complicated....but still. I have enjoyed Blogger so far and am not completely sure I 'need to make the switch' as so many bloggers seem to implore me into doing. 

And that's it folks, post 100!! Hope I made it as exciting for you as it was for me :)